Numerous flights between Australia and Bali have been postponed or cancelled due to volcanic ash from Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki.
The volcano, located on the Indonesian island of Flores east of Bali, began erupting late Tuesday, sending ash several kilometres into the sky, a local volcanology agency stated.
In an update on its Smartraveller website, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) confirmed some Bali flights had been affected.
“If your flight is affected, contact your airline and insurance provider for alternative travel and accommodation arrangements,” it stated.
Jetstar services are the most impacted from Australia, with the carrier forced to reschedule several Denpasar-bound flights.
“Due to volcanic ash caused by an eruption of Mount Lewotobi in Indonesia, a number of Jetstar flights between Australia and Bali have been cancelled this morning,” the airline said in a statement at around midday Wednesday.
“Impacted customers have been notified directly and provided a range of options.
“At this stage, forecasts show the ash cloud is expected to clear by later tonight. As a result, this afternoon’s flights will be delayed to operate later this evening. We are reaching out to customers on these flights to advise them of the delay.”
The carrier added that it would “continue to monitor the situation closely and will contact customers directly if there are any further changes to our schedule”.
“We recommend customers also check their flight status on Jetstar.com before coming to the airport.”
“Safety is always our number one priority, and we thank this morning’s customers for their patience and understanding.”
According to Bali Denpasar Airport’s website, Virgin Australia flights have also been affected, with Bali-bound Melbourne and Brisbane flights cancelled due to the volcanic ash.
Air New Zealand, AirAsia, Singapore Airlines and Tigerair flights are some of the other international services cancelled today.
Several domestic flights have also been grounded.
“Ngurah Rai is still operating normally but it depends on the flight schedule, but some of the flights are cancelled due to a volcano. It depends on the route and also the airline,” an unnamed Bali airport employee told AFP.
Meanwhile, geology agency head Muhammad Wafid urged people to stay at least 7km away from the volcano’s crater.
On Smartraveller, DFAT says that “many of Indonesia’s volcanoes are active and can erupt without warning”.
“Adhere to exclusion zones around volcanoes, which can change at short notice, and follow the advice of local authorities,” it states.
“Volcanic activity may escalate without notice, leading to flight disruptions and airport closures, including in surrounding provinces.”
In November 2024, a Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki eruption grounded most flights between Australia and Bali.
